Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-02-10
STRIKE ar srr11.
Tho Discharge of am Objection able
EmHpl0ye Asked.


The hundred or more hands of Gam.
brilps cotton mill at ThirteenthIand Lom.
bard streets, went on n strike Tbureday
because Mr.. Qambrill refused 10 discharSe
an objectionable employe, Miss Etta Hon
erickson, spooler. The mills have only
recently been reftted at cost of $50, 600
and started up on January 10th with
every prospect Of steady employment.
Mr.. Gambrill said that he was waited on
by committee Of his employs, all men,
week ago, and that they demanded the
discharge Of Miss Hendriokson, because
abe had given offence to the knights of
Labor. The girl had told the knights that
she would not be drawn into any organiza-
ton with her eyes shut. Mr.. Qambrill
refused TO discharge the girl without
cause, and requested the employees TO
settle the matter among themselves as IL
was not matter pertaining TO his bust.
ness and he saw no reason, why he should
be involved.
Miss Hendrickson, the cause Of the
trouble, said that the trouble began in
the Arlington mills some months ago,
where abe had secured employment at
night work. She was notified TO ioin the
Knights of Labor by John Flanagan, one
of their leaders, but az she knew nothing
Of the order, she asked him what its char.
acter was and what benefits would be de.
rived. Flanagan said that the knights
would maintain good wages, but the girl
refused to join. She was then discharged
without notice, she said. She afterward
secured work at the new mills OF Mr..
Gambrill, and at the same time made ap.
plication to the Knights of Labor for ad.
mission. She was rejected by the order
and refusal TO dismiss her caused the
strike of the employees Thursday night.
Friday morning Miss Hendrlckson was
the only employee who came to work. She
was sent home again and the works are
closed. The superintendent, Andrew
Price says that no propositions for bridg-
ing the difficulties have been made, nor SO
far as Mr.. Gambrill Ia concerned are any
necessary; because he has nothing TO do
with the difficulties. 81 think that the
government should refuse to authorize an
organization which Expresses person in
the way In which Miss Hendrickson has
been treated"
The employees who went out say that the
dihiculty arose from thu abuse of tho signs
OF the Knights OF Labor which she ascer.
tained from male Acquaintance while
working at the Arlington mills. She openly
showed these signs through the mill, they
say, and held them up to ridicule, saying
that she could get all the information that
she desired OF the order without joining.
Attempts were made to conciliate her with
out avail, and she was asked to join the
order but refused.
The other employees then refused to work
with her. They charge that she applied for
admission to the knights In order to pro-
cure work at Gambrill's mill, but she was
not accepted. Her initiation fec OF 90 cents
was returned, the knights say, and not re.
tanned, as she charged. John Flanagan and
Frank Lynch, two OF the men who went out,
charge that the superintendent, Andrew
Price, ia the cause Of the trouble, In that he
attempted to get situation for the girl,
and when told that II she came to work the
other employees would quit, replied that
they could leave and return to night-work
at the Arlington mills